What is this infatuation with household items?

I couldn't help but snap these photos. They aren't the best, of my photography that I have seen, but they are mainly for action shots. This little one found the broom in between the washer and dryer and pulled it out all by himself. Then proceeded to push it all around the house.

Which then led daddy to go make a "smaller" more adequate one for the D man. It's just his size...but I think he was a little peeved at its non-performance!

I sure hope he still loves to do this and help mommy with household tasks when he gets to the appropriate age! All in due time...

He's not looking like Frankenstein anymore.

Only after two weeks, our little one has (or think he has) mastered the art of walking well balanced with hands about shoulder level instead of high up in the air...YEAH RIGHT!

Ok, so maybe he has...but he still falls at times and sometimes gets going so fast that he stumbles over his feet and well the inevitable happens. But lately he doesn't look like Frankenstein anymore...it's more of well simply a little boy. It's crazy! He loves, I mean absolutely loves, to carry everything with him while he is walking.

Whether it is his sippy cup (which he has to learn you can't drink and walk at the same time...because you have to see where you are going...otherwise you meet the wall), his fork or spoon (which will inevitably be a no no...to sharp of an object), a bowl, a ball, a dog toy...you name it...he is carrying it! So this has helped him bring his arms back to normal range for walking.

He's very proud of himself and at times will make a few laps around the kitchen just jabbering and talking to himself. And every so often he will stop and squeal at the back door because there is a friendly furry face outside and he would rather be out there!

All in all...he's just growing before our eyes and every minute of every day is something great! It's definitely never a dull moment. Life is simply amazing...and we are loving every minute of it!

Oh that will be a shiner all right!

I have to say that I was a little sad when I picked up Dylan today I had to sign an incident report! :( The poor dude somehow tripped and fell into the high chair and had a huge bruise on his forehead and right above his mouth.

It had just happened an hour before I got there and it was already all purple and blue. I think this one is going to stay for a while.

Chalk it up to one of many bumps and bruises from this walking craze (at least that is what everyone tells me)!

I think I am officially scared...nervous...and want to protect him! But I know he is going to do it and it is going to happen.

So...here you go, this is the best shot I could get of the bruise(s)...including the one from last night. Sad to say but I think both the high chair and the empty box won!

Happy Memorial Day!

It was nice to have a 3 day weekend and oh boy it was filled with non stop excitement for Dylan!

From hanging out and having boys afternoon at the pool on Saturday, while the Mama's went to Becky's baby shower, to wet and rainy weather, visiting with Grandpa and good ole fashion BBQ-ing...it sure was eventful!

We let daddy sleep in on Saturday morning and get some much needed rest, while we took a walk in the jogging stroller and went to see Grandpa. Then Daddy and Dylan went swimming, in which Dylan turned into a prune he had so much fun with Braden!

Sunday was nasty, rainy weather all day, but that didn't mean we stopped short of our deliriously kooky Sunday! The dude was fighting his naps all day and it took Daddy putting Dylan in the car, to bring me my helmet so I could ride Liberty,...before he fell asleep. Little did we know that would be the last we would see his peepers until the next morning. He slept 13 hours! We couldn't believe it! From 5 o'clock to 6:00 Monday morning. He even went to bed without dinner and his bottle. Craziness! That is what I call being sleep deprived which always, I mean always = deliriousness!

Monday was packed with errands, visiting the Wright's house and of course hanging out at the pool and finally having dinner at Grandpa's house. Oh by the way...watermelon is his favorite...I wonder if it had anything to do with the fact that is all Mama ate when she had morning sickness for 18 weeks!

He also, with his new found excitement with walking, had a few bumps and bruises too. He bit his tongue while trying to climb up the chair, that involved blood. Then with his eagerness to get down the hallway managed to fall and bump his head on the tile. And last night decided to play with an empty box (from his high chair/booster seat) we got for Grandpa's house. Well, let's just say climbing on an empty box when you weight 23 lbs involves it bucking you off and making one bump their head on the edge of it. Of course that was bad, but then at the same time the corner of the box hit him below the eye and caused a blood vessel to pop and swell right away which involved a nice purple bruise. It isn't the first, that is for sure!

It goes without saying though, that the microwave is our savior. We really need to invest in those Boo Boo ice pads! Here we come!

Oh and this was him making faces at me through the window...what a goober!

And finally...he's standing!

So, most of the time one would think that in order to learn how to walk you would need to figure out how to stand. Well, in Dylan's case it would be backwards. He mastered the art of walking before figuring out how to get up on his own, with his own strength to stand.



Saturday I couldn't stop laughing. While in his crib he kept doing this tripod looking thing, like he was attempting to do a headstand. It was quite amusing and I had no idea what he was trying to do...I just thought he learned something new and was trying it out, because of course he kept giggling at me because I was laughing too. (Most of the time that triggers him doing the same thing over and over again until just because it is funny).




While at Grandpa's house he finally made the full on push up and rock back. I couldn't believe it. Of course from that moment on it was...lets fall just to do it all over again routine. The first few times were a little shaky, even Dad was surprised what he had accomplished. But by that night, he had standing fully mastered! Here are a few videos, in which show him standing like he has been doing it since he was born. One would think it was a breeze. But I tell you what after watching him figure it out, it definitely was a learning curve.



I would say now that he knows how to stand and can do so quite effectively he is about 80% of the time walking and 20% crawling. Oh boy, let's get ready for the ride!

He's WALKING: Part 2

Ok, so I promised a video. These two are my favorite...just when he was figuring out how this whole walking thing works, he was pretty proud of himself and especially because he could get to his surroundings and without crawling.


Now of course, he is all over the place. I amazed sometimes how he stays on his two feet with how off balance and wobbly something will make him, but he recovers just fine and is off on his mission!


It's the cutest thing!

ENJOY!!!

Mr. Independent

Ok, just a short note about our little Mr. Independent. Lately, eating has to be on his terms and in his hands...well he would much rather feed himself.


Here's the scenario:

Mama or Dada trying to feed him with a spoon...NO Go! We get a fussy, squirmy child in a high chair with no where to go.


Give him a sippy cup with water or juice...it gets thrown on the floor.


Give him snacks he can pick up himself...you get a somewhat content talking toddler.


But wait! We aren't going to let the child go to sleep hungry or filling up on not so healthy snacks...Ahhhh plan B!


Follow through with a utensil he can hold himself, and food on the tray that he can attempt to eat...SUCCESS a happy and content toddler that now all of the sudden wants to eat.

Mmmm!




Oh by the way...did I mention I am so proud of our little boy...he absolutely loves fruits and veggies! Woo hooo! I sure hope that pallet stays!

He's WALKING!

So after an exciting day of little small steps here and there from safe places or to mama and dada, he all of the sudden decided he wanted to be independent alright! We were supposed to go for his 1 year pictures with Rita but on our way there we turned around and came home...it was a torrential downpour which = not good weather for outdoor pictures.


What do we do instead? Go hang out at the Wright's house! I am not sure if he was trying to show off, or maybe it is that their tile is smoother or flatter but he sure did decide he was going to get places by walking as opposed to crawling! It was the best...we couldn't believe our eyes!


Here's the child, that ultimately still doesn't like standing on his own or squatting. If it is important its quicker to crawl or to now walk instead of pondering whether to crawl or walk. So I am not sure how he figured out that if you start to get off balance, position your body to help with the gravity of things, straighten up and continue to walk. The best we can describe it...it's like seeing someone walk the line for an officer after having a few to many drinks. He's straight, then gets wobbly, then he crosses legs looks like he is going to fall, comes to a complete stop stands there and then gets going again. It's quite an amusing scene.


So...when the time is right and mommy has her camera in tow...I will then post that video too. But for now, you just get the details with no visual image...sorry bad mama!

Dylan's First Steps!!!

So is it a coincidence that he spent 3 days in daycare and has taken his first steps? I was beside myself while at work and seeing on the camera that he was walking back and forth from Melinda to Sabrina. Here's how the week panned out and how slowly but surely, our little one took his first steps!


Wednesday the 13th, he would walk a few steps back and forth from Melinda to Sabrina and was so giddy doing so. The more you clap and say "yeah" the more he would giggle and go faster (which made him fall into your arms as opposed to getting there gracefully)!

Thursday th 14th, he would to the same as above but a little further distance...or he would go from his walker to the excersaucer all the while lunging towards the excersaucer as it was catching his fall.


Friday the 15th...oh goodness! I just happened to sign on while at work and saw the little dude going from one thing to another and then crawling. But I was beside myself when I saw him in the middle of the room, with his hands in the air "walking"! Yes, this time there was no one there to save him and it was all on his own! The girls were behind the counter and it's almost as though he was walking to them! I couldn't believe my eyes. So, I did what I could and took screenshots throughout the rest of the day trying to capture this moment, and emailed it to all the grandparents!

What did we do when we got home? We tried it ourselves and the little dude is so proud of himself. He's a little wobbly but it's walking and more than just 2 steps too! It catches us off guard and our immediate reaction is yell for one or the other (if not in the room) so the other can come running to see...but it always makes my heart drop when Cody is yelling for my name. So we made a packed that now if we are yelling (not really but you know what I mean) it means to come running not because he is hurt but because he is walking!


So...Saturday morning we decided to capture it on videotape (since now it is more than just a mere coincidence, it actually is happening more often than not). Here's one of the (many) videos we took that morning.







I just couldn't believe it! The first few days it was only if you encouraged him but by the end of the weekend it was complete free will all on his own! Simply brings joy, delight and tears to my eyes!

13 Months Old!

Ok, seriously...has it really already been a month since our lil monkey turned one? Where does the time go?!

Well...in this past month he has developed into a very opinionated, independent, talkative toddler!

He weighs 22lbs 12oz and is 30" tall. Really, already? He's starting to chunck up a bit now (he had lost so much when he started crawling b/c he was everywhere)...and the dude can eat and he will let you know when he is hungry too...he's just a growing boy we can't complain!

Words: Mama, Dada, Daddy, outside, dog, whee (pronounced "hee")

Things he likes: to eat in general, beep beep, his one and only lonely bottle a day, chasing Gunnar through the house, his walker, his golf clubs, to throw balls, acting kooky delirious on Sundays, playing outside with friends in the cul-de-sac, turning on and off the computer, anything with blue or orange lights, the broom, the squeegee, using paper towel or sock to wipe down a surface,

Food he likes: grilled cheese, quesadillas, any and all fruit...especially watermelon, bananas, Mandarin oranges, mango, juice in his sippy cup, yogurt and cottage cheese.

His dislikes: Pot Roast, Whole Milk, and the kicker when you take something away from him. Oh wait did I forget to mention anything on his hands that make them "dirty". How did this child become such a clean freak?

Developmental Milestones:

He is not yet walking, but would rather walk assisted than crawl. If you try to assist him to walk, but aren't holding his hands, he will grab your hands and shoot them straight up in the air for support. He now likes to walk just holding onto one hand. And is doing much better about standing with his balance, but most of time only if he is concentrating on something or has something in his hand.

He claps, points and will grasp his hands and move them up and down. Not sure what he is doing, I like to tell him he is praying (b/c that is what it looks like), but who knows what his thoughts are!

While eating, if he is all done, he will put his sippy cup on the designated spot on the tray and pulls his hands back grabbing his belly...as if that is his way of saying "I'm done" or "I'm full"!

Oh yeah, he has 8 teeth! I think two more on the top are coming in, especially after the few nights of uncontrollable crying. We will just have to wait and see when and where they pop through.

The biggest accomplishment this month, but lasted only a few days is when asking him "where is your belly button" he would stop in his tracks to pull up his shirt and grab his belly button. Cutest thing ever!

I need to start writing all this info down so I don't miss a thing, there is so many new things everyday and sometimes multiple things in a day for days at a time...so it is hard to remember. One would think, I won't forget about that...but for some reason this mind over here...does! :(

2 in 1 day: Happy Mother's Day & Happy Birthday!

In the past, when Cody's birthday fell on Mother's Day we always did the normal and celebrated with our mom's. But I still was able to have a get together for Cody, go out to eat, celebrate or go to a bar. These days, those times are few and far between, and especially when it falls on Mother's Day! Now that we have a little one, of course our lifestyle has changed a bit...but today the moment I try to do something for him because it is his birthday, I get the "go sit down" or "I'll get it".

It's just not fair. I have always been one to try and make the most of a birthday, they are important and should be reason for celebrating. But not for my kind, loving and oh so thoughtful husband. Today he didn't want to have anything to do with his birthday...the poor guy his birthday was overshadowed.

We still had a nice relaxing day! And he and Dylan made me a nice Mother's Day card and attempted to make me breakfast, until I woke up and said "you are not making breakfast on your birthday". So we went out.

We went to the park with Dylan and let him play in the playground and well...on top of the Frisbee golf goal. He liked that a bunch! They even let me go to the mall to try and find some clothes (since all of my previous and post prego clothes do not fit me). Then we met up with our mom's for a late lunch or early dinner...which ever you like to call it. It was very nice to sit and chat with them and not feel like you have to be anywhere but with them! Dylan was on his best behavior, so that is a plus!

I couldn't have asked for a better day! A day with the boy's and celebrating with our mom's...that is what Mother's Day is all about, celebrating with the one's you love for all that they do and have done!

Maybe, just maybe, we will get a chance to celebrate my hubby's 31st bday!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

So, being we needed to celebrate our heritage...or ok have an excuse to drink beer and margaritas all the while having fajitas...we decided to have a little get together with The Wright's!

Nothing too elaborate just the normal food, drinks, entertainment (which our entertainment is trying to keep up with the kids of course) and finally getting a chance to eat...we found a few moments to well...take a few snapshots! Oh boy, those boys never cease to amaze us!

Could this be the next Vincent VanGogh?

Or maybe Pablo Picasso? Not sure who this little guy wants to be, but I do know one thing he definitely had a different idea about he wanted to paint than what mommy had in mind! With all that's going on this year, we decided to home make our Mother's Day presents.

Prepared and ready with all of our supplies and the lil guy in the high chair outside (it was a nice evening) we (one by one) gave him a sheet of paper and put finger paint on his hands to make hand print flower petals. Well...for some reason we have a child that does not like to get dirty! He didn't want anything to do with the paint that was on his hands. He would take one hand to wipe off what was on the other. Or better yet, wipe it on his face, stomach or legs!

It ended up being a mess, but was quite entertaining. Before long he was hitting the paper which was splattering paint everywhere...and swirling it around on the paper. Needless to say, the oh so cute hand print petal shaped flower I had envisioned...was nothing more than a mixtures of red, blue, green and yellow. And like that of him on his birthday with his cake he eventually was so mad that he wanted out of his high chair. He would make squinted faces, inspect the paint that was left on his hands or try to turn around and climb out.

After all that, the moment he could get his little feet on the ground and in the grass...he was a happy camper. Next time maybe we will try to just lay it on the ground and let him have at it?!

All in all, it was fun and entertaining and he got to be creative. I am not sure if the paintings look like that of Picasso or Starry night by Van Gogh...but they turned out pretty cute and unique to say the least.

Here is an adorable picture of him, pondering and thinking, after all the madness. Instead of posting a picture of his pictures, I think an actual picture of him covered in paint is cuter!

Baby steps!

So, I've told you guys before, I really think D is going to start walking while at home with daddy...could it be soon or is he just faking us out?


We practice the whole, walk to Daddy then Mommy back and forth. And he has been becoming better at walking along a wall, or the cabinets or standing at one thing and turning around and somehow making it to the other that is only a step away. I keep saying I need to get those little steps on camera...but at the time I get the camera...he plopped to the floor and doesn't want to do it again.


Well, I call home to Cody from work, and he says "he just walked 3 steps"! What? Are you serious? Of course my first reply, "did you get it on video?". NO...he said...he was standing at the cabinet turned around and walked maybe 2 steps and realized that he was walking and fell to the floor. Then I get home and he tells me, he just took 2 steps! What? When, where? OMG!

We keep thinking...maybe he is leading us on...maybe he will be at this stage for a while. We don't know. But just in a weeks time...he sure has come a long way. He will get it...these are just baby steps!

What a weekend...

It was a long eventful weekend...I'm just sad they are too short! Where does the time go?

It started off trying to sell some of my Mary Kay stuff at a garage sale. I have so much "on the shelf" that I need to just get rid of it and order what I need when people want it. Of course I had some clothes to get rid of and some nick knacks around the house. Needless to say, I stayed up late on Friday and got up way to early on Saturday.

After the garage sale we headed to the Hurricane Ike crawfish boil and BBQ at the Rooker's house. Their house was almost or basically destroyed in the Hurricane and this was a party to celebrate them moving back into the gorgeously remodeled home. It was really nice to hang out in their backyard and enjoy the day. The boys (Braden and Dylan) hung on the blanket and played with their toys and wanted nothing more than to crawl into the beds...not sure why...I guess boys will be boys and they want to get their hands "dirty". Oh boy!

After their we decided to go swimming at a friend's house. After the boys had their cat naps and dinner, it was time to swim. But of course the pool sounded great when we were sweating in the heat of the day (is it really getting that warm already, 90 this week?)...but by the time we got in there was a breeze and the boys got cold quick! After we had dinner and put them down we were able to hang out and enjoy some "grown up" time...did I really just say that???

Sunday was leisure day...we ran some errands and went for our bike ride. I think we had dejavu of "deliriously cooky Sunday"! That boy just thought we were hilarious when we were driving home from the store...what is up with that? It's the best...one day I will get it on video!

oh and one more thing...I am going on a "use everything plastic" in our house. The dude decided he wanted to grab an ad off the kitchen table...in which had a glass bowl full of his veggies in them. Needless to say...we were up late last night cleaning our kitchen. (I couldn't have him crawling on that floor without getting it squeaky clean!)

Oh NO! Did that really happen?

Of course when you think you have the baby proofing done in the house...you forget about that one spot that you didn't baby proof because you are never, and I mean never in there.


Well, the little rascal who is quite the adventurous and mischievous one...made his way into our front bedroom. We were in the hallway talking and all the sudden tears, you would have thought it was Niagra Falls! We didn't know what happened.


His beep beep was in their and we knew he was trying to climb on it, which is why I was ok not following his heels in the room. Well, the beep beep was parked right in front of a night light...which is rarely ever turned off b/c it is so dark in that room. Plus, it didn't help the night light, light bulb burnt out and was replaced with a regular chandelier light bulb with no shield. What else could it be...besides that he had to have grabbed the darn light bulb and burnt his hand!


Poor guy, I felt so horrible. I grabbed it just thinking what is it...and it burnt me. So I could only imagine on his precious, soft little hands that this was very painful! Needless to say, of all the times he has fallen and hit his head...I have never seen him this upset.


So...try putting a screaming child's hand in a cup of cold water or under the faucet. He was not having it. Of course, when all else fails, put him in his beep beep and chase Gunnar around the house, and all of the sudden you have a happy laughing baby! That didn't last long, the moment we stopped, he started crying again. I think the excitement in the beep beep took his mind off of the pain. We finally gave him a teething ring from the freezer and he managed to want to hold that. And the doctor's suggestion...keep it clean, neosporin and band aid! Band aid, are you serious? on a 12 month old? That didn't last long...the band aid didn't even live to be on longer than 5 minutes! Owell!


But of course what else? It did blister...and that blister did pop which resulted in another session of unhappiness. Poor guy, it was a rough two days!